Rescue Dogs Stories

Each week, 6abc Action News is featuring one local animal shelter in the US, giving the shelter owners and supporters a great chance to showcase their facility and their adoptable cats and dogs.

In the first Shelter Me story of 2016 we meet Izzie who has brought happiness to her owner.

Rescued Dog Helps Her Owner Get Through a Difficult Time

Marge Walsh found Izzie at Lulu's Rescue in October 2010. "She's got me through some incredibly difficult times. They seem to sense when you're down, and they give you that look of love," said Marge.

Her experience led to a growing involvement with Lulu's, the rescue group that saved Izzie. She also said, "Izzie has brought me such wonderful happiness that I thought, let me give back too."

Michele Armstrong, the Executive Director, Lulu's Rescue said, "They turn it into wanting to give back and trying to help more Izzie's find their forever.

Lulu is a small, foster-based group with 20 volunteers, but they are responsible for more than 400 adoptions a year. Michele said, "There's some kind of connection that you can't really describe, it's almost like love at first sight."

Most of the dogs come from high kill shelters, saved from an uncertain future. Marge said, "They're healthy, they're wonderful, there lovable, they're adoptable, and you have to rescue them."

If you're interested in any of the dogs you've seen in the video, you can visit the Lulu's Rescue website.

Shelter Me

The Shelter Me feature of the 6abc channel is being aired during a short segment on Action News' Saturday morning broadcast, and is also published on 6abc.com. Shelters are selected, each week, by voting on 6abc online poll. Once the application has been approved, the shelter is added to the channel’s "Shelter of the Week" choices.

The feature is a good opportunity to hear and watch true and heartwarming rescue dogs stories.

Rescued Dog Helps Welcome Baby Home

In the last 2015 week's Shelter Me story we met a family of four - two parents, one baby and one adopted dog named Ruthie.

When the Lohleins adopted Ruthie, she had just given birth to a litter of puppies, and soon enough Ruthie had a new babe to take care of - David.

Kate Loehlein says: "We had him at 27 weeks, he was a preemie. Came home right around his due date, and she was great with him."

The Loehleins brought blankets home from the hospital for Ruthie to sniff before she met David in person. Now they're best buds. Phil Loehlein says: "David will come up and play on her, climb over her."

It's how the Delaware SPCA wants all their adoptions to go.

Walter Fenstermacher is the Communications Manager for the Delaware SPCA. He tells us, "Seeing stories like Ruthie's really means everything to us. To see them from start to finish, from skinny to healthy... it kind of gives meaning to each and every day that we do."

They have a newly renovated space with a fully staffed veterinary clinic. Fenstermacher says: "People can make an appointment and receive low cost and affordable veterinary care."

Their expanded dog kennel offers more room in the no kill shelter, and the cats enjoy condo living so that the pets will have an easier time adjusting to a forever family. Fenstermacher explains: "It really just makes them more comfortable during their stay here."

If you're interested in adopting a pet, you can visit the Delaware SPCA Website.

Rescue Dog Makes His Journey to a Therapy Dog

Another rescued dog, called Dikan, has made his journey from a shelter pup to a therapy dog.

"Your story led to his litter being placed in foster care with Rescue Dogs Rock," said Arlene Binsik.

Arlene adopted Dikan in August 2014. "We had someone foster eleven puppies at Rock until they were eight or nine weeks, and then they found homes," said Ginny Chappell, the founder of Rescue Dogs Rock Animal Rescue.

Now, Dikan, a mix Pit-Bull is loving his home and his new role with his foster mom, Arlene. Ginny says, "She works with HIV patients and now Dikan is a therapy dog."

Arlene added, "For them to come in and be able to interact with a dog, it relaxes them and allows them to enjoy the visit more."

Dikan is just one of the success stories made possible by Rescue Dogs Rock. It's not any dog into any home, it's the right dog and the right home," said Ginny.

If you're interested in any of the animals you've met today, you can visit the Rescue Dogs Rock Animal Rescue website.

And, if you'd like us to share your shelter success stories, 6abc Action News channel offers you to post a picture to the FYI Philly Facebook page using #6abc Shelter Me and tell them where you adopted your pet and how much they mean to you. Action News will feature your stories on upcoming Shelter Me segments.